In its second year, New Town Sarbojanin Durgatsav Samity, which made it to the Durga Puja Carnival on Red Road in 2022 has based its theme on ‘Komalgandhar’. Soothing tunes based on the raga will be played in the background of the pandal. It is also the first all-woman community Durga Puja in the New Town township since last year. The 2023 Puja will be conducted by women priests and women dhakis will perform. The pandal with lakhs of mirrors and gleaming chandeliers will house an exquisite idol of the goddess, making it a must-visit for pandal-hoppers
Amit Datta
The Tala Baroari Durgotsab pandal this year is dedicated to Abanindranath Tagore, the immensely talented nephew of Rabindranath Tagore. Props have been used to showcase his artistic and literary skills. Paintings and sculptures have been neatly put up on the side panels. Not to be missed is a detailed family tree of the Jorasanko Thakurbari
Arnab Dutta
The theme for State Bank Park Sarbojanin in Behala Thakurpukur in its 53rd year is ‘Elen Notun Deshe’ (Embark on a Journey to a Surreal Dreamland). The pandal promises to transport pandal-hoppers to a breathtaking dreamland, a world where boundaries vanish, nature flourishes, and love transcends limits. Huge white props on bamboo structures were being put up when the MK team checked out the pandal
Sannidh Raychaudhuri
The theme for the Sreebhumi Sporting Club Durga Puja pandal in its 51st year is Paris Disney Land. Preparations to welcome Ma Durga with her children were on in full swing on Friday till the magical lights are switched on for Bollywood actress Vidya Balan and pandal-hoppers on Saturday evening
Ashim Paul
The theme for Shastribagan Sporting Club near Baguiati Joramandir this year is ‘Sadhana’. To bring its theme to life, the organisers have used applique work on ‘maadur’ (straw mat) for the side panels with aluminium sheets inbetween. Social messages too have been painted. Gamchha (handwoven towels from Bengal) have been extensively used in its original form as well as dyed in several bright colours and set together to give a collage-type look
Amit Datta
The Maitri Sangha on Motilal Nehru Road between Tridhara and Maddox Square has re-used metal scraps to create an exquisite Durga idol and pandal, under the guidance of Pradip Chopra, chairman, iLead Kolkata, this year. Artist Afsar Ali has evoked the deep sense of nostalgia by bringing back Maitri Sangha’s Durga Puja also on a mission to empower unemployed youth through the ‘Waste Billionaire’ initiative. It is an idea to encourage entrepreneurship amongst unemployed youth based on waste upcycling
Amit Datta
